Air Elementals - Sylphs

SYLPHS

The name "Sylphs" is often used as a generic term to include all types of Air Elementals.  Angels, Fairies, Air Sprites, Flower Fairies, Spirit Guides of Birds and Flying Insects, Valkyrs, and Griffins are all examples of Air Elementals that may sometimes be grouped under the category of "Sylphs", although most often the name is used in reference to Air Fairies.

However, there is also a specific type of Air Elemental that are called Sylphs.  They are more connected to the world of the Fae, and some even say they are members of the Sidhe race who took to the skies instead of the Underworld when the Sidhe were driven out by the Celts.  Slyphs are shape-shifting, flying, angelic beings of the sky... made of Air itself.  In their truest form they are described as tall, humanoid beings with huge wings; a wingspan more than double the length of their body, flying and swooping high in the sky like eagles.  They are said to make patterns in the clouds with their wings.  The Sylphs are not really interested in human affairs - although they are very concerned about Air Pollution and the health of the skies.  Some people claim that the Sylphs can clear away chemtrails left by jets and airplanes and can also have an effect on the weather because of their large, forceful wings.  

Since they are made of Air, Sylphs are usually invisible - so sightings are rare, especially since they often remain high in the skies and do not usually reveal themselves to humans.  Their presence is usually noted by intricate patterns in the clouds that look like they have been swirled and brushed by large feathers; often into the shape of wings, birds, or angels.  Their presence is often indicated by strong gusts of wind that seem somehow "different" than the normal wind that day... a wind that suddenly gusts and swirls from a different direction or that appears on a calm day when there was no wind.  

Even though the Sylphs are not very concerned with human affairs (unlike the Angels, who are fully interested in human life), sometimes a human will gain their attention and favor.  People who show an interest in weather patterns, clouds, nature, birds, and a shared concern about Air Pollution might have results in calling upon Sylphs to help them.  Others may gain the attention of a Sylph, uncalled for... either way if they appear to you they are most likely trying to help you be aware of your connection to the air and wind, take notice of your breathing and the health of the air in your environment, and to help you learn to be truly free.  There is a certain symbiotic relationship between humans and Sylphs - we breathe the air - the very stuff they are made of, and they need our help in protecting and healing the skies.  Recognize that these powerful beings need your help too, and they will certainly be happy to return the favor.  You may feel the presence of a Sylph as a soothing, peaceful breeze or gust of wind that seems somehow to speak directly to you - a wind that whispers in your ear and makes you suddenly aware and alive, your heart fluttering.  You may suddenly have clarity of thought or suddenly think of a solution to a problem with a gust of wind - perhaps a Sylph has smiled on you.  Though they rarely "land" on the earth, if they do they are sometimes seen as tall slender figures that are glanced as shadows or shapes out of the corner of your eye... yet invisible or flying away when you look directly at them.  They can shapeshift to much smaller sizes if they want to and appear as small breezes playing in a garden or swirling up dust in a mini-whirlwind.

Below are some pictures of Sylph activity in the clouds above my house.  These pictures were taken just a couple days ago, as I began researching the Sylphs and preparing for this blog post.  Do you see the shapes of angels and birds in these clouds that look like they have been brushed into shape by large wings?  

For further reading on Sylphs, here are two links to sites I found very helpful;

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/sylphs-air-elementals.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/sylphs.html

Faerie Friday - Trust Your Intuition

This week's message from the Faeries is "Trust Your Intuition".  This card and description are from the oracle card deck "Healing With The Fairies" by Doreen Virtue.

"Trust Your Intuition" Artwrk by Gail Gastfield
http://members.aa.net/~urizen/gail_art.html

Card Meaning;
"It is safe for you to follow your heart's guidance.  You know, deep down, what to do.  This card asks you to trust and follow this inner intelligence.
Has your inner guidance been trying to get your attention lately?  Perhaps a gut feeling is tugging at you like a seeing-eye dog, an inner voice has been screaming at you, or you've had dreams charged with profound emotions and symbolism lately.
By drawing this card, you're being urged to pay careful attention to those various forms of intuition.  Now is not the time to ignore these messages or procrastinate.  Trust this inner wisdom, just as you would if it came from a respected teacher.  Know that you aren't imagining the guidance.  Its powerful and receptive voice is a sign that you are truly getting clear and trustworthy messages that are worth following.

Affirmation; "I trust and follow my feelings and thoughts without question or delay."

~ From the "Healing With The Fairies" Oracle Card guidebook by Doreen Virtue.  No copyright infringement intended, I am sharing here as an oracle reader sharing advice with beloved friends.

I have drawn this card this week, asking for guidance from the faeries, not only for myself but for everyone who has been following my blog and my Air Element Studies.  The faeries are asking you now to listen to that inner voice, trust in your own intuition and feelings about situations or choices.  Learning to trust that inner voice can be hard to do... and the first step is to open yourself to being able to HEAR that inner voice in the first place.  If you would like more advice on being able to hear your inner voice and heighten your intuition and sixth sense, I would highly recommend the book, "Trust Your Vibes"  by Sonia Choquette.  It is full of wonderful advice and exercises to help you recognize, and trust your intuition and "sixth sense".

One practice that Sonia Choquette recommends is to simply "Ask Your Spirit".  If you have an intuitive feeling guiding you to do something, yet you are still afraid to make the change or take action, or are hesitant about whether your intuition is guiding you in the right direction or not - place your hand on your chest over your heart, take a deep breath, and ask your true Spirit - your higher self - what he/she thinks about the situation.  Just breathe deeply and say, "Hello, Spirit... what do YOU want me to do?"  If the answer is yes and your intuition is correct your Spirit will fill you with a sense of joy, a fluttering in your chest that makes you smile.

Keep on meditating with the Air Element meditations I shared with you last week, focusing on uniting your body and spirit with your breath, this will help activate your intuition and help your recognize it when it speaks to you as well.  Have a blessed week, and remember, the Fairies are looking out for you!

Faerie Friday - Letting Go

I thought that with our Air Element studies, it would be a good time to connect with the Faeries and see what lessons they have for us each week!  So every Friday (as my hectic life permits) I will draw a card - either from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck by Doreen Virtue, or from The Fey Tarot by Mara Aghem.  For each week's reading I will ask what advice the Fairies have for us; both for myself and for those of us who are following this blog and the Air Element Studies.  This card will give us something we can work on, an area of focus, or some advice to follow for the following week.... from Friday thru next Friday!  Enjoy, and let's see what the Faeries have to teach us!

This week I drew a card from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue.

Artwork by Corey Wolfe.  www.coreywolfe.com 

LETTING GO

Card Meaning & Message from the Fairies;
"You aren't receiving positive results because you're struggling too much to solve the problem.  By letting go, you're opening yourself up to a miraculous solution.
Problems are caused by human thinking and action.  That's why problems aren't solved by additional human thinking and action.  When we think hard or struggle to resolve a crisis, things can actually get worse!
By drawing this card, you are being asked to stop the human struggle.  Stop thinking about the problem, since a focus on negativity can manifest more negativity.  Say aloud or silently, "I am willing to surrender this situation to my Creator [Higher Power / God / Goddess / Angels] right now."  By affirming this statement, heaven is able to intervene on your behalf.  You will instantly feel relief, and will be gratified to see how easily and naturally the situation resolves itself."

Affirmation; "I am willing to surrender this situation to my Creator right now.  When I let go, everything turns out perfectly."

~ By Doreen Virtue, from the booklet to the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck.  I do not claim ownership of this deck or what is written above, and no copyright infringement is intended.  I am sharing here among friends.
-------------------------------------------
I find it wonderful that this is the card we got for this week.  Our upcoming lessons in our Air Element study are going to be about working with Air in the form of Breath and Meditation.  Meditation is all about letting go.... about letting go of fear and worry and thoughts for awhile, finding that peaceful place within, and letting our Higher Self or Higher Consciousness come through.  In letting go of the chatter of the mind and ego, we can hear what our Higher Self, our Angels, our Spirit Guides, and even the God/Goddess are telling us.  When you develop a good habit of meditating, you can find that the solutions to your problems come to you much more easily when you are in this relaxed state!

Also, this card might present itself to some as a lesson about meditation itself.  When teaching yourself to meditate, there can be many frustrations and doubts and fears that come to the surface.  "Why can't I clear my mind?"  "Why can't I stay focused?"  "Why is this so hard?".... it's not easy to train your mind to just be quiet for awhile and let your Higher Self do the talking.  When you are finding yourself frustrated with meditation, remember this card and the message from the Fairies.... LET GO!  You're not going to be perfect at it right away... no one is!  Let go of your self-criticism, your perfectionism, and your ridiculously high standards for yourself.  Meditation is an act of self-love, and should not be a time of fears and doubts.  Just LET GO, and keep trying!  You WILL get better at it if you keep it up and keep practicing!  And then, once you have become more comfortable with meditating, you will be able to really understand the original message of this card, and when you have a problem or worry, it will be much easier to slip into the peaceful, trusting state of mind in order to truly let go and let the Divine help you find solutions to your problems! 

Faerie Friday - Environmental Awareness

I thought that with our Air Element studies, it would be a good time to connect with the Faeries and see what lessons they have for us each week!  So every Friday (as my hectic life permits) I will draw a card - either from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck by Doreen Virtue, or from The Fey Tarot by Mara Aghem.  For each week's reading I will ask what advice the Fairies have for us; both for myself and for those of us who are following this blog and the Air Element Studies.  This card will give us something we can work on, an area of focus, or some advice to follow for the following week.... from Friday thru next Friday!  Enjoy, and let's see what the Faeries have to teach us!

This week I drew a card from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue.  (Actually, to be more honest, I didn't draw this week's card randomly.  I chose this card because Monday is Earth Day and this week's lessons and assignments will be on Air Pollution!).  

Environmental Awareness
from the "Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck" by Doreen Virtue, Hay House Inc.
Artwork by Corey Wolfe

Card Meaning: "The fairy kingdom is very concerned with the health of Mother Earth.  By drawing this card, the fairies are recruiting you to become involved in environmental matters.  

You have the power to make a huge impact on our planet.  Earth is a living, breathing being, and the fairies are calling on you to help her.  Your contributions could include recycling, picking up trash while on your nature walk, switching to environmentally friendly cleaning products, getting involved in an environmental protection group, becoming a vegetarian, or educating your children about the fragility of nature.

When you spend time outdoors, mentally ask the fairies for guidance on how to make your special contributions to Mother Earth's well being.  The fairies will give you answers in the form of thoughts or feelings, by arranging a synchronistic opportunity, or by helping you use your unique talents to help educate others about environmental concerns.

Affirmation: "It feels good to nurture my planet with loving care."

~ channeled message from the fairies by Doreen Virtue, in the "Healing With The Fairies Oracle Card Deck" guidebook.

__________________________________________________

Additional Meditation for Healing the Planet Earth

Planet Earth
Affirmation 1; "I love the planet"

Affirmation 2; "I appreciate the beautiful world I live in."

Meditation;

"The earth is a wise and loving mother.  She provides everything we could ever want.  All our needs are taken care of.  There is water, food, air, and companionship.  We have an infinite variety of animals, vegetation, birds, fish, and incredible beauty.  I have committed to lovingly taking care of and improve the quality of life in this world.  I express random acts of kindness whenever I can.  I recycle and compost and organically garden and improve the quality of the soil.  It is my planet, and I help to make it a better place to live.  I spend quiet time every day actively imagining a peaceful planet.  I imagine the possibilities of a clean, healthy environment.  I envision the governments of the world working together to clean the planet.  I see all the people on the planet opening their hearts and minds and working together to create a world where it is safe for us to live in love and harmony with Mother Nature.  It is possible, and it starts with me!"

~ by Louise L. Hay, from "Meditations To Heal Your Life", Hay House Inc.

------------------------------------------------

Need some ideas for getting started and ways you can help the environment?
check these posts;
Clean Air: Things You Can Do While Traveling

Clean Air: Things your can do at Home

Clean Air: Earth Day Ideas For Kids

Faerie Friday - Detoxification

I thought that with our Air Element studies, it would be a good time to connect with the Faeries and see what lessons they have for us each week!  So every Friday (as my hectic life permits) I will draw a card - either from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck by Doreen Virtue, or from The Fey Tarot by Mara Aghem.  For each week's reading I will ask what advice the Fairies have for us; both for myself and for those of us who are following this blog and the Air Element Studies.  This card will give us something we can work on, an area of focus, or some advice to follow for the following week.... from Friday thru next Friday!  Enjoy, and let's see what the Faeries have to teach us!

This week I drew a card from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue.

DETOXIFICATION

Artwork by Nancy Chien-Eriksen

Card Meaning;

"You are being guided to clean your body, environment, mind, and heart of toxins.  God and the fairies will help you with this endeavor. 

It's time to let go of toxins, within and around you.  This card validates your inner guidance that has been telling you to let go of harmful habits.  Go outside in nature, and call upon the fairies to surround you.  Ask God (and Goddess) and the fairies to help you release toxins from your mind, body, and heart.  Ask them to help you release cravings for harmful habits.

You'll soon find yourself naturally desiring organic fresh food and produce.  You'll be guided to read ingredient labels of all foods, beverages, and toiletry items, and you'll only want to use natural products.  You'll be guided away from environmental toxins.  And most important, your thoughts and emotions will veer away from judgment and fear, and will become love based instead.

Affirmation: I take excellent care of my body, and I crave only healthful foods and beverages."

From the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck Guidebook by Doreen Virtue, Hay House Inc.  

_________________________________________________________

I feel that this card is reminding us that our Mind, Body, and Spirit are all connected. In order to embark upon any kind of spiritual journey or learning-quest, our bodies must be healthy and well taken care of.  Pay attention to what you are putting in your body.  Drink more water, make healthier choices, embark upon a detoxification process such as a juice fast if you feel it necessary at this time.  Exercise, do yoga, meditate, and make sure you are taking care of your basic hygiene needs.  You may also want to examine what kinds of cleaning products you use in your home and look for less toxic products for cleaning your home environment.  The fairies will guide you to show you what you need to change in your life, if you are open to listening to them!  For a couple tips on using a homeopathic bath to help you detoxify, check HERE.

___________________________________________________________

Here are a few additional meditations and affirmations to help you with the Detoxification process!

Addiction;

Affirmation 1; "I claim my power and move beyond all limitations."

Affirmation 2; "I forgive myself, and I set myself free."

Addiction Meditation;

Heavy dependence on anything outside myself is addiction.  I can be addicted to drugs and alcohol, to sex and tobacco; and I can also be addicted to blaming people or judging people, to illness, to debt, to being a victim, to being rejected.  Yet, I can move beyond these things.  Being addicted is giving up my power to substance or a habit.  I can always take my power back.  This is the moment I can take my power back!  I choose to develop the positive habit of knowing that life is here for me.  I am willing to forgive myself and move on.  I have an eternal spirit that has always been with me, and it is here with me now.  I relax and let go, and I remember to breathe as I release old habits and practice positive new ones.

Food;

Affirmation 1; "Food is a good friend.  I thank it for giving it's life to nourish me."

Affirmation 2; "I love eating good, healthy food."

Food Meditation;

Eating good, nutritious food is deeply pleasurable whether I am at home, in a restaurant, camping, hiking, or taking my lunch break at work.  I love myself; therefore I choose to be aware of what I put into my mouth and how it makes me feel.  When I eat, I am putting fuel into my body to give me energy.  Every body is different.  I easily find the kind of fuel that my body needs to have optimum health and energy.  Fast foods can be fun occasionally, but it is not normal or healthy to exist on colas, cakes, and processed convenience foods that have little nutrition in them.  Learning about the basics of good nutrition is fun and energizing.  I enjoy cooking and eating delicious, healthful, natural foods.

Nutrition;

Affirmation 1; "I lovingly take charge of my body now."

Affirmation 2: "I nourish myself with love."

Nutrition Meditation;

I care enough for myself to nourish myself with all the best that Life has to offer.  I learn about nutrition because I am a precious being, and I want to take the best care of me that I can.  My body is special and different from all other bodies; therefore, I learn the things that my body assimilates the best.  I learn everything I can about food and beverages.  I pay attention to what I eat and drink, and I I notice some food or beverage does not agree with me.  If I have something to eat and an hour later I feel tired or fall asleep, I realize that particular food is not good for my body at this time.  I search out the foods that give me good energy.  I bless all my food with love and gratitude. I am nurtured and nourished.  I feel healthy, happy, and great!

Body;

Affirmation 1; "My body is a good friend that I take loving care of."

Affirmation 2; "I love my body"

Body Meditation;

My body is perfect for me at this time.  My body weight is also perfect.  I am exactly where I choose to be.  I am beautiful, and every day I become more attractive.  This concept used to be very hard for me to accept, yet things are changing now that I am treating myself as if I am someone who is deeply loved.  I'm learning to reward myself with healthy little treats and pleasures now and again.  Little acts of love nurture me, doing things that I really like, such as quiet time, a walk in nature, a hot soothing bath. or anything that really gives me pleasure.  Caring for my body is the best way to show myself self-love and acceptance.  I believe it is okay to like myself and be my own best friend.  I know my body is filled with star light and that I sparkle and glow everywhere I go.

Housekeeping;

Affirmation 1; "I continually clean the rooms of my mind."

Affirmation 2; "Simple Household chores are a snap for me."

Housekeeping Meditation;

I make housework fun.  I begin anywhere and move through the rooms with artistic flair.  I toss out the garbage.  I dust and polish those things I treasure.  We all have a set of beliefs.  And just like a comfortable, familiar reading chair, we keep sitting in these beliefs over and over again.  Our beliefs create our experiences.  Some of these beliefs create wonderful experiences.  And some of them can become like an uncomfortable old chair that we don't want to throw out.  I know that I really can toss out old beliefs, and I can choose new ones that significantly improve the quality of my life.  It's like housecleaning.  I need to clean my physical house periodically, otherwise it gets to a point where I really can't live in it.  I don't have to be fanatical.  I do need to clean.  Physically and mentally, I fill the rooms of my house with love.

All the above meditations are from the book, "Meditations To Heal Your Life" by Louise L. Hay, Hay House Inc.

___________________________________________

I would suggest that along with the initial advice from the Fairy Oracle Card and asking the fairies for help with detoxification, you choose one of the above meditations (whichever one calls out to you as the one you need help with the most or would be most beneficial to you), and read it to yourself two or three times a day for the next week.  You can read it once in the morning upon waking up, once during the day, and again when you go to bed.  Good luck, and don't forget; God, Goddess, and the Fairies are helping you with this undertaking!